Additional Links

Ex-assistant principal denied parole in child sex case

By MIKE GELLATLY

Former North Augusta assistant principal Stephen Coke Eubanks, who was convicted in 2010 of child molestation, was denied parole on Wednesday.

Over the course of three decades, from 1976 to 1995, Eubanks abused teenage boys and girls while he was working within the local education system, officials said.

At the hearing, which statute requires, Eubanks pleaded to be released as he “could never do anything like that again.”

When asked why he had committed the crimes, Eubanks replied “ignorance and indiscretion.”

According to court testimony, Eubanks made juveniles perform various sex acts with him and took some to interstate rest areas where he made them engage in sexual activity with other unidentified men.

“I feel it’s taken away my life and has not only devastated me, but my family,” he said. “I realize now that I could never do anything like that again. Seeing what it has done with the family and the community, no way I could go back to doing that.”

The panel also heard from a representative of the victims, who plainly stated their case.

“I’m against parole,” the representative said. “I feel that he has not had enough time in (prison).”

The board agreed and quickly denied parole due to the seriousness of Eubanks’ crimes.

Eubanks is set to complete his 10-year sentence in 2015, according to Peter A. O’Boyle, director of public information for S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. His release date, without parole, is estimated to be March 26, 2015, according to the S.C. Department of Corrections.

The hearing was conducted via teleconference, with Eubanks appearing on his own. Other parole-eligible offenders appeared with supporters by their side.

Since being convicted on the child molestation charges, Eubanks has worked in chaplain’s office at MacDougall Correctional Institution where he is housed, for two years.

At the hearing, he presented this work, his attendance at “every church service” and his working “with people who have problems with literacy” as evidence that he has been rehabilitated.

According to court documents, Eubanks was accused of having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old boy at the former educator’s Belair Road home between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 1993.

Other allegations included that he watched pornography and engaged in masturbation and oral sex after plying teenagers with alcohol and drugs.

Charges also stemmed from abuse he inflicted on a North Augusta High School student and a Paul Knox Junior High School student in the 1970s.

Comments

Notice about comments:

Aiken Standard is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point.

We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click the X that appears in the upper right corner when you hover over a comment. This will send the comment to Facebook for review. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.